Naughty dating questions

"Any time you open yourself to somebody, whether it's emotionally or physically, and then they reject you -- it's going to hurt," Gowen says. Don't base your readiness to date on what your friends are doing. "You have to share some common interests," Gowen says.

Even if it seems like everyone around you has paired off, you want to go out with someone for the right reason -- because you really like that person. You also want to be with someone who will treat you right, she says. One clue is the way they treat their friends, teachers, and parents.

Once you know your limits, you need to be strong and secure enough to say "no" or "stop" if things are getting too hot and heavy.

Are you also mature enough to handle the rejection that can come in a relationship? On the flip side, if you were the one having to do the breaking up, could you do it in a firm, but kind way?

You have met the most amazing person, and you totally NEED to go out with him/her. Do your parents even allow you to go out and "date?

Now, there's hooking up, friends with benefits, casual dating, and all manner of other things. There's no courtship, there's zero determining if you're compatible romantically or long term. "I learned a lot while in Ireland (and France, Belgium) about romance and relationships, and you can read all about my adventures elsewhere (see: What Does Shifting Mean in Irish Slang, and Dating in Ireland).First, I had to come up with a way to describe what I do for a living.Dating a guy who's in high school when you're still in middle school, or who's a senior when you're still a freshman might seem cool, but it could get you into a lot of trouble."Just because a girl looks like she's 16 when she's only 11, it doesn't mean that psychologically or emotionally she's ready to date older boys...